Properties Window

Article
11/14/2006

Displays properties, events, and methods and their settings for a selected form, data environment, cursor, relation, or control. For more information about how to set values for object properties, events, and methods, see Manipulating Objects.

You can view the value for a read-only property that extends beyond the right edge of the Properties window without widening the window by using the Zoom option.

To view the value for a read-only property

In the Properties window, right-click the property you want to view.
From the shortcut menu, select Zoom.

The Zoom dialog box usually allows you to edit values for read/write properties with the exception of properties such as Visible or ColorSource. Though you can select and copy all or part of a read-only property value in the Zoom dialog box, you cannot edit the value.

Object list

Shows the currently selected object and displays a list of available objects when you click the arrow to the right of the list. This list includes the current form, form set, and all the controls on the form.

If the Data Environment Designer is open, the Object list includes the data environment and all cursors and relationships in the data environment.

Tabs

Display properties, events, and methods by category:

All All properties, events, and methods
Data Properties associated with what and how data is displayed or manipulated by the object
Methods Methods and events
Layout All layout properties
Other Miscellaneous and user-defined properties

Property Settings Box

Makes it possible for you to change the value of the property that is selected in the properties list.

If the selected property has predefined settings, clicking the arrow appearing to the right of the property settings box opens a list of settings from which you can choose. You can also cycle through settings by double-clicking the property name in the properties list. If the setting requires a file name or a color, clicking the ellipsis (...) button that appears displays the appropriate dialog box or window, such as the color picker dialog box.

The following buttons appear to the left of the property settings box:

Cancel (X) Cancels the changes you made to the setting and restores the original value.
Accept (check symbol) Confirms changes you made to a setting.
Function (Fx symbol) Opens the Expression Builder Dialog Box. You can set literal values or values returned by functions or expressions.

Properties List

This list shows all properties that can be changed at design time and their current settings. To get Help for a specific property, select the property and press F1.

The property settings in the properties list can appear as follows:

Property settings that are expressions are prefaced with an equal sign (=).
Settings for properties, events, and methods that are read-only appear in italics.
Methods and events display inheritance details as follows:
```
Default
```
-or-
```
Inherited cClassname ClassLibrary
```
For more information about viewing inherited code for a method or event, see Manipulating Objects.

Keyboard Shortcuts

The following table describes keyboard shortcut commands for the Properties window.

Shortcut	Action
ALT+DOWN ARROW	Opens the drop-down list of objects.
ALT+UP ARROW	Closes the drop-down list of objects.
CTRL+PAGE DOWN or DOWN ARROW or RIGHT ARROW	Moves to next object in the drop-down list of objects.
CTRL+PAGE UP or UP ARROW or LEFT ARROW	Moves to previous object in drop-down list of objects.
CTRL+END	Moves to last object in drop-down list of objects.
CTRL+HOME	Moves to first object in drop-down list of objects.
TAB	Cycles to the next control on the Properties window.
SHIFT+TAB	Cycles to the previous control on the Properties window.
SHIFT+F10	Displays the appropriate shortcut menu.
CTRL+ALT+letter	Selects the next property in the properties list that begins with the letter character. For example, pressing CTRL+ALT+B selects the next property that begins with B.